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While the Spirit of Vatican II reigns supreme in the Archdiocese of Washington, Arlington continues to flourish

You Report: Traditional Solemn Laetare Sunday Vespers & Benediction

"The Institute of Catholic Culture is pleased to announce the presentation of solemn vespers on Sunday, April 3, Laetare Sunday, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Alexandria. Presiding at the service will be Fr. Franklyn McAfee and Fr. Paul Scalia from St. John the Beloved in McLean, Virginia.

"The Washington, DC-based acapella chorus, the Suspicious Cheese Lords—named after a loose translation of a title of a Thomas Tallis motet—will perform the requisite chants at the Vespers service. The group is well known for its medieval and Renaissance musical repertoire. It has performed before the Holy Father during His 2008 visit to Washington, DC. For nearly a decade until 2006, the group served at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington as its choir in residence.

"Historically, Christians prepared for the great feast of the Resurrection, Easter Sunday, through fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Over time, devout Christians developed a forty-day long period of preparation, called Lent, in which the entire community readied themselves for Christ’s resurrection through rigorous acts of fasting and self-denial. In the midst of this time of spiritual struggle, indeed, at the mid-point of the fast, the Church, in anticipation of the joy of the Resurrection, spent a day of rejoicing, called Laetare Sunday. As this day of rejoicing closed at the setting of the sun, Christians traditionally gather together in prayer to thank God for the gift of Easter, a joyous day that is soon to come.

"The service begins at 7:30 p.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 310 South Royal Street, Alexandria, Virginia. All are welcome to join. For more information, please visit www.InstituteofCatholicCulture.org or call 540-635-7155. "

7 comments:

The Diocese of Arlington is a wonderful exception out there. Thank God for it. The same can be said for the Diocese of Basel (Switzerland) and the Diocese of Versaille.

Today is the Feasteday of Pope St. Gregory the Grat. Let's ask for his intercession to restore the ancient Latin Mass throughout the Church. Arlington is not causing a crisis, so it can be a model for bishops everywhere.

All Rorate Caeli devotees should check out the audio files posted on the Institute of Catholic Culture website (www.InstituteofCatholicCulture.org). I am very familiar with the work of the ICC and it is excellent! Faithful to Tradition in every way. And FREE!